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Europe/Russia
Germany | The German brewery Oettinger is expanding its international business. To this end, it has established a company in Switzerland. As a result, Oettinger has come under scrutiny by the German tabloid newspaper Bild, alleging potential tax evasion. Oettinger confirms the international expansion but refutes the allegation that it may relocate its domicile.
Europe/Russia
Austria | It’s the question dividing Villach: Should a beer brand, which is no longer brewed locally, be allowed to continue bearing the city’s coat of arms? The story so far: In 2024, Heineken Austria, the owner of Villacher brewery (founded in 1858) in Carinthia, southern Austria, announced it would close down the 320,000 hl brewery and replace it with a “city brewery” – a cute term for what is basically a 7,000 hl microbrewery.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | The announcement on 30 March, that the rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West), known for his numerous antisemitic outbursts, would top the bill at London’s Wireless Festival in July caused such an outcry that PepsiCo and Diageo withdrew their sponsorship and the UK Home Office denied him entry on the grounds that his “presence would not be conducive to the public good”.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | The German discount retailer Lidl is about to open its first ever pub in a Belfast suburb. The decision is not necessarily due to the supermarket chain seeking to diversify into the hospitality industry. Rather, it is a way of exploiting a legal loophole to bypass Northern Ireland’s draconian and maddening licensing laws, media reported on 9 April.
Europe/Russia
France | A prospective tie-up between France's Pernod Ricard and America’s Brown-Forman will test whether the families behind the two drinks groups can unite in a slowing global drinks market, while maintaining their respective influences. The companies announced their intent on 26 March but gave no financial details and said there was no certainty a transaction would result.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | UK brewers bet big on Mediterranean lagers. After Moretti, Madri and a host of others, Carlsberg Britvic is the latest to launch one. The rollout of its Greek-style beer Mythos began on 18 March and will include more than 1,400 Tesco Express stores and over 600 Tesco large format outlets, as well as Booker sites. The introduction into the wider grocery, convenience and impulse channels is planned for September 2026.
Europe/Russia
Austria | The competition watchdog, BWB, is increasing its pressure on Brau Union, Heineken’s local subsidiary. In the ongoing proceedings at Vienna’s Cartel Court over Brau Union’s alleged market power abuses, BWB called yet another distributor to witness on 16 March. The unnamed representative from the distributor Getränkewelt described how, in his view, the brewer has leaned more heavily on its logistics partners over the years. “Brau Union's goal was to wipe us out,” he said. “They wanted to get rid of us because we were the market leader in East Tyrol.”
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | Irish drinks company C&C (Magners cider, Tennent’s Lager) has taken full ownership of the Glasgow craft brewery Drygate, the only microbrewery operating in Glasgow’s historical centre. The acquisition became known on 15 March. Earlier this month, C&C bought Innis & Gunn out of administration.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | Just over two years ago, small brewers from across Europe came together and established the Independent Brewers of Europe to fight for and defend independence and ensure that drinkers can continue to enjoy a great tasting beer wherever they are in Europe. Their new report (18 March) shows that in the face of geopolitical turmoil, energy prices are the top challenge. One in two independent breweries expects either no growth or a decline in turnover. Yet behind these sobering figures lies a sector determined to adapt, invest and defend Europe’s authentic beer culture.
Europe/Russia
Turkey | The Turkish brewer and soft drinks bottler said on 6 March that 2025 net income dropped 34.5 percent year-over-year to TRY 8.96 billion (USD 203 million) and the company recorded a net loss of TRY 3.14 billion (USD 68 million) in the fourth quarter. While net revenue saw a modest 2.5 percent increase to TRY 243.8 billion on a proforma basis, significant margin compression and operational pressures in key markets caused profits to drop.
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BRAUWELT on tour
Most Read
BRAUWELT on tour
